Italy, Qatar Urge Immediate Ceasefire

Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti and his Qatari counterpart urged an immediate ceasefire on Monday, as terrorists in Gaza continue launching rocket attacks against Israel for the sixth straight day.

"We are very worried about the escalating violence," Monti said at a jointnews conference in Doha with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem al-Thani.

"A ceasefire must quickly be reached to allow the peace process to begin as soon as possible," he told reporters according to an official translation.

The Qatari prime minister described the events in the Gaza Strip as "unacceptable" and echoed his the calls of his counterpart that both sides to commit to a ceasefire.

"We are for a return of calm. But this must happen clearly and no side must be allowed to continue to assassinate or initiate side battles," said Sheikh Hamad. "A truce must be observed from both sides."